The Golden Jubilee
started with the setting up of the planning / organsing Committee which
comprises of the supervisor, members of staff and parents ( Currents and Ex ).
The members of the
committee is as follows:
1. Rev.
Sr. Stella – Maris Idibie __ Supervisor
2. Lady
Amadi __
Chairman
3. Mrs.
Louis __
Vice Chairman
4.
Mrs. Godwin S. __
Secretary
5. Mr. Gborigi __ Publicity Secretary
6. Mrs. Ofoegbunam __ Member
7. Mrs. Ibeje P. __ Member
8. Mrs.
Ekwen __ Member
9.
Mr. Maduekwe __ Member
10.
Mrs. Izuazu __ Member
11.
Mrs. Akuwudike __ Member
12.
Mr. Thomas O. __ Member
13.
Mrs. Amah __ Member
14.
Mrs. Isa __ Member
15.
Ms. Ashobi s. __ Member
16.
Mrs. Anamelechi __ Member
The committee kicked
off and had it 1st meeting on 10th March, 2017 for
effective and efficient outcome, members were divided into sub – committees:
Ø Entertainment
Ø Publicity
Ø Finance
Ø liturgy
A working plan was
drawn and it was agreed that the event will be a week event.
Day 1. 3rd Feb. 2018
- Fitness walk
2. 5th Feb. 2018 – Inter –
School Spelling Bee & Charity visit
3. 6th Feb. 2018 – Old
School Carnival
4. 7th Feb. 2018 - Excursion
5. 8th Feb. 2018 –
Exhibition & Seminar
6. 9th Feb. 2018 -
Dinner / Award Night
7.10th Feb. 2018 – Grand
finale
Letters were sent
out to individual, families, schools and parishes under the Catholic Archdiocese
of Lagos for supports and sponsorship.
Getting sponsorship
from individuals and corporate bodies was challenging but the committee refused
to give up and with the efforts of everyone especially the vice – chairman of
planning committee Mrs. B. Louis and the supervisor Rev. Sr. Stella – Maris Idibie,
we were able to get supports from a few number of Catholic Churches and Schools
in form of goodwill messages.
The Press Club
editorial team represented by Anisiobi Chioma, Amadi Mercy, Kenechukwu Omalu
had an interview with the proprietor of the school and Archbishop of Lagos, His
Grace Alfred Adewale Martins and the 1st Supervisor and Founder,
Rev. Mother Martha Onwuachi. The transcripts of the interview were published in
our 2018 Yearbook ( Golden Jubilee Edition).
The school received
goodwill messages from individuals, families, Catholic Schools, Catholic
Churches, among others. Also, the Archbishop of Lagos Metropolitan See, His
Grace Alfred Adewale Martins, Anthony Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie, the Director of
Education Monsignor Jerome Oduntan.
Superior General of
EHJ Sisters, Rev. Sr. Mary Agatha Osarenkhoe, and Regional Superior South West
Rev. Sr. Afaregha Theresa sent their congratulatory messages.
As part of the
publicity, an online groups and pages were opened on social media. Letters were
written and banners were produced months before the event so as to create the
awareness. This really helped in bringing old pupils and parents together.
GOODWILL GESTURE
During the harvest
of SS. Mulumba & David, one of the parishioners, Mr. John Okonkwo bought a
live cow which he donated towards the Golden Jubilee of our school. The cow was
kept and reared between Nov. 2017 - Feb. 2018. Special thanks to Mr. Peter
Dansson and Rev. Sr. Stella – Maris Idibie for the well – being of the animal.
A few days to the
kick off of the event, the Director of Education, Monsignor Jerome Oduntan paid
a surprised visit to the school which was coincidentally during the meeting of
the planning committee.
HIGHLIGHT OF EVENT
DAY 1: Fitness Walk
The event kicked off
with a fitness walk. As early as 7.
00am, pupils, parents, staff and old pupils were already set at the school
premises for the walk appearing in their white T – Shirts and Customised Neck
Scarf. The walk kicked – off from the school ( Simisola ) went through Olufemi
to Ogunlana, to Masha, Folamiyo Bankole, Olatilewa to Abayomi and ended at SS.
Mulumba & David Car Park.
The participants
were made to go through minor aerobic ( exercise ) session which was conducted
by Mr. Ibeje Pats. Its was fun. Some of the children were amazed seeing their
parents dance. What a wonderful way of kick – starting an event! The event was
well attended.
==============================================================
DAY 2: Spelling
Bee & Charity Visit.
Above fourteen
schools were invited for the Spelling Bee but 11 honoured the invitation. Two
spellers from each invited school participated. The schools who participated in
the Spelling Bee are :
·
St. Catherine
School
·
Clear Edge School
– S/L
·
Handmaid
International School – Aguda, S/L
·
Our Lady of Mount
Carmel – Ebute Metta
·
Our Lady of
Apostles School – Yaba
·
St. Philips N/P
School – S/ L
·
Maryland Convent
Private School – Maryland
·
Jiba N/P School
·
GoodNews Baptist
Church N/P School S/L
·
Perfect Standard
Private School.
·
The Great
Foundation Hall N/P School – Aguda
At the end of the competition.
1st. Mount Carmel Private School – Ebute – Metta
2nd . St.
Catherine Model School – Ojuelegba
3rd. Maryland Convent School.
The winners ( 1st – 3rd ) were
presented with trophies while 4th & 5th were given
consolation prizes. Also, all participates were presented with certificate of
participation.
Some members of staff, some children visited a Red
Cross Orphange at Makoko, Yaba. Clothing materials, shoes, toiletries, bag of
rice and other food items were presented and received happily by the management
of the home, also charity was extended to Eternal Father home for the destitute
who received it with joy.
===========================================================
DAY 3: OLD SCHOOL CARNIVAL
This was one of the most memorable day in the
programme. Parents, staff and pupils dressed in old school attire. The programe
started with Red – Carpets followed by old school parade with Bridgade Band
from Simisola to Olufemi through Jubril Martins, Sam Shonibare and back to
Simisola.
The major features of the day were:
v Old school parade
v Red carpet
v Parent beauty pageant
v Spotlight ( An Interview with a 70 years old Mrs.
Judith Assin)
v Video clips on life in the 60s & 70’s
One of the Royal
mothers of the Jubilee Mrs. Jane Ebong graced the occasion and she had an interactive
session with the children. Mother of the Day, Mrs. Ify. Mbelede was also
present and she was chief Judge for the pageant.
In the beauty
pageant, there were 5 contestants, at the end of the competition; there was no
Victor, no Vanquish. Everyone was declared winner by the judges and they were
presented with gifts items.
==============================================================
DAY 4: EXCUSSION
The pupils &
staff went on an excursion to Apapa Amusement Park. They had fun.
DAY 5: SEMINAR
& EXHIBITION
There were two major
talks for the day. The 1st was on child abuse presented by Tell It
Educational services, while the 2nd talk was on health which was
presented by Excel.
Also, there were 6
exhibitors who exhibited their products. During the program, all the exhibitors
were given 3 – 5 minutes to tell the audience about their products.
DAY 6: GALA
/ AWARD NIGHT
The Gala Night took
place at the prestigious Rita Lori Hotel Event Center. The hall was filled to
the capacity. The event had more than 200 people in attendance which includes;
Guests, Awardees, Former / Ex – Supervisor, Parents (present and old), and staff.
The Red Carpet started at about 5 pm.
The history of ST MARTINS CATH NUR AND PRY
SCHOOL was read by Mrs. Anoruo Eva.
The Royal Mother of
the day in the person of Chief Mrs. Rita Lori couldn’t make it but she was well
represented by her son who happens to be an ex-pupil of St. Martins, he also
chaired the occasion.
Some Awardees for
the Jubilee were presented with Awards among are:
Hon. Femi Abajabiamla, ( Represente by Mr. olufemi
Badmus Rev. Sr. Ike Rev. Sr. Mary Anthony Okpara Victor Nwaobani ( The first head boy of St. Martins)
DAY 7: GRAND
FINALE
The grand finale
started with an opening Mass which was celebrated by the School Proprietor
& Archbishop of Lagos, His Grace Alfred Adewale Martins at 10:00am. He was
accompanied by:
ü
Monsignor Jerome
Oduntan ( Education Director )
ü
Monsignor Bernard
Okodua ( Dean Surulere Deanery )
ü
Rev. Fr. George
Mgbetu ( Parish Priest SS. Mulumba &
David )
ü
Rev. Fr.
Joseph Aloo Aondona (Associate Priest)
The reception took
place at SS. Mulumba & David car park with various activities. Awards were
also presented during the programe. There were dance presentations by pupils
and parents.
The Executives of
the Alumni Association who were earlier inaugurated and prayed for by His Grace
Alfred Adewale Martins. They also recited the school anthem and promised to
work hard and enforce a strong Alumni Association. Also, there was a presentation
on the activities of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus (EHJ) Sisters which was
presented by Rev. SR. Agnes Ajayi, which ushered in a Special Recognition and
lifetime Achievement Award presented to Mother Martha Onwuachi.
It should be noted
that some of the old pupils were contacted and a whatssap group was created
where the election of the executive members was done. The 1st
Headboy Victor Nwaobani emerged the presidents of the Alumni Association.
Anthony Cardinal
Olubunmi Okogie, Bishop Emeritus and former proprietor of the school who was
unavoidably absent, was represented by Rev. Fr. Atoyebi, his jubilee message to
St. Martins was read. In his letter, he
thanked God for bringing St. Martins where she is today compared to what it
used to be, he also thanked the management, staff, and parents of the school
for carrying forward the vision of the school to give holistic education to the
pupils who are the leaders of tomorrow. He also promised to earnestly pray for
us all.
CONCLUSION:
The much anticipated
50th Golden Jubilee has come and gone but the memory will remain in
the minds of St. Martins Community Members for a long time. Letters of
appreciation were sent to those that supported the celebration and the Cardinal
also sent a reply appreciation to the school.
0n the 28th
of Feb 2018, the 50th anniversary planning committee had her last
meeting where accounts were given in respect of income and expenditure, a vote
of thanks was given by the Vice Chairman Mrs. Louis B. and all thanks went to
God Almighty for a successful anniversary. The committee was officially
dissolved by Rev. Sr. Stella – Maris Idibie.
We thank God for the
success of the Golden Jubilee and a special thanks to the Proprietor of the
school His Grace Alfred Adewale Martins, Rev. Mother Martha Onwuachi ( founder
), Rev. Sr. Stella – Maris Idibie, ( Supervisor ), Lady Nkechi Amadi ( Chairman Organising Committee)
